Part Ⅳ Reading Comprehension(Reading in Depth) (25 minutes)

Section A

Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

注意：此部分试题在答题卡2上作答

Questions 47 to 56 are based on the fallowing passage.

Have you ever known anyone famous? If so, you may have found that they are remarkably similar to the rest of us. You may have even heard them __47__ to people saying there is anything different about them. “I’m really just a normal guy,” __48__ an actor who has recently rocketed into the spotlight. There is, of course, usually a brief period when they actually start to believe they are as great as their __49__ fans suggest. They start to wear __50__ clothes and talk as if everyone should hear what they have to say. This period, however, does not often last long. They fall back to reality as fast as they had __51__ risen above it all. What will it feel like to soar to such __52__ and look down like an eagle from up high on everyone else? And what will it feel like to have flown so high only to __53__ from your dream and realize you; are only human? Some only see the __54__ in losing something they had gained. They often make __55__ attempts to regain what they lost. Often these efforts result in even greater pain. Some become __56__ financially and emotionally. The only real winners are those who are happy to be back on the ground with the rest of us.

A) desperate

B) disappointing

C) cruelty

D) bankrupt

E) fancy

F) protects

G) altitude

H) similarly

I) wake

J) contest

K) object

L) worshipping

M) dignity

N) originally

O) protests

Section B

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

注意：此部分试题在答题卡2上作答。

Passage One

Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.

A detailed and thorough research project undertaken by the Open University recently reported that their evidence appears to show that competition between nearby schools does not significantly improve academic standards. Indeed, their report inclines to the opposite outcome; the exam results may actually decline where competition is fiercest.

When the further education sector was " privatized" a few years ago, competition between colleges became truly fierce, at least in urban areas where potential students could choose between several of them. Colleges appointed highly paid marketing directors and gave them large budgets; some even "bribed" interested students with promises of hundreds of pounds if they completed certain courses satisfactorily.